Graduate Degree Requirements

Masters of Science

The MS degree requires successful completion of 26 credits of course work and 4 hours of thesis credit for a total of 30 hours (minimum). A master’s thesis is required. Master’s students have six calendar years to complete the degree. A master’s committee is comprised of 3 faculty members (minimum).

Required courses: GEOL 5020 and 2 semesters (1 credit/sem) of Distinguished Lecture Series.

Requirements specific to the M.S. in geophysics: Students must complete 6 hours of mathematics and three hours of physics or engineering courses at the graduate level. M.S. students must also take at east 12 hours of 4000- and 5000-evel courses in geophysics. Recommended graduate level mathematics courses include differential equations, numerical analysis, and real and complex variables; in physics and engineering they include classical mechanics, continuum mechanics, elasticity electricity and magnetism. Substitutions for graduate-level geophysics courses may be made with the permission of the candidate’s advisor. Remaining graduate-level course requirements may be made up from courses in physics, engineering, mathematics and geology.

First semester: Student and advisor meet to identify any background deficiencies. Deficiency coursework must be completed with a grade of B or better early in the student’s graduate residence.

Second Semester: Oral qualifying examination, committee and program filed. See links below for format and send committee member names to acadcoord_gg@uwyo.edu.
MS Program of Study
Masters Oral Exam Requirements

Final Semester: Oral presentation of the written thesis.
Signature Form

Additional Graduation Requirements:

1. Declare graduation requirements (docx)
2. Pay graduation fees

For any additional information, please visit the UW Graduate Student Resources page.

Doctor of Philosophy Degree Requirements

The PhD degree requires successful completion of 42 credits of course work and 30 hours of dissertation credit for a total of 72 hours (minimum). Previous course work from a pevious graduate program may be considered for the Ph.D. Program with advisor approval. A Ph.D. committee consists of 5 faculty members (minimum). Required courses: GEOL 5020 and 2 semesters (1 credit/sem) of Distinguished Lecture Series.

Requirements specific to the Ph.D. in geophysics: Students must complete at least 6 additional hours of graduate-level coursework: 3 in mathematics and 3 in physics or engineering. Recommended graduate-level mathematics courses include differential equations, numerical analysis, and real and complex variables; in physics and engineering, they include classical mechanics, continuum mechanics, elasticity, electricity and magnetism. Ph.D. candidates are required to take at least 12 hours of 5000-level geophysics courses exclusive of GEOL 5854. Substitutions for graduate-level geophysics courses may be made with the permission of the candidate’s advisor. Remaining graduate-level course requirements may be made up from courses in physics, engineering, mathematics and geology.

First semester: Student and advisor meet to identify any background deficiencies. Deficiency coursework must be completed with a grade of B or better early in the student’s graduate residence.

Second Semester: Oral qualifying examination, committee and program filed. See links below for format and send committee member names to acadcoord_gg@uwyo.edu.
Ph.D. Program of Study
Ph.D. Oral Exam Requirements

Fourth or Fifth Semester: Preliminary Examination. This exam is scheduled following completion of 30 hours of 4000-level or higher coursework, not including independent study or research credits. Following successful completion of the pre-lim, a student has 4 years to complete the degree.
Preliminary Exam

Final Semester: Oral presentation of the written dissertation.
Signature Form

Additional Graduation Requirements:

1. Declare graduation date (docx)
2. Pay graduation fees

For any additional information, please visit the UW Graduate Student Resources page.